The meeting between M.K. (Mahatma) Gandhi and Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar in Ratnagiri in 1927 was one of those rare encounters in Indian history where two towering, yet ideologically opposed, figures came face to face. Though often overlooked, this event offers a unique window into the clash of philosophies that would shape the future of modern India.
The Context: Two Leaders, Two Paths
By 1927, Veer Savarkar was living under strict internment in Ratnagiri. Released from the Andamans in 1924 under conditions imposed by the colonial government, he was prohibited from political activity and restricted to the Ratnagiri district until 1937. In effect, Savarkar had been politically sidelined by the British. Bound by these terms, he turned his energies to social reform—campaigning against caste discrimination, advocating temple entry for the so-called untouchables, and promoting reconversion (Shuddhi) to Hinduism.
Gandhi, on the other hand, was at the height of his national influence, traveling extensively across India. His visit to Ratnagiri was part of this tour, but he made a deliberate decision to call on Savarkar. Despite their deep political differences, Gandhi regarded Savarkar as an important national figure and wanted to meet him.
The Meeting in Ratnagiri
The encounter took place at Savarkar’s residence – accounts differ on the exact date, citing both March 1 and March 23, 1927. Savarkar, reportedly unwell at the time, received Gandhi cordially. The two leaders engaged in wide-ranging discussions.
Outcome and Significance
The meeting was cordial in tone but unyielding in substance. Neither leader persuaded the other. Gandhi did not agree with Savarkar’s views on the necessity of a strong military or the forging of a cohesive Hindu community grounded in a majoritarian vision.
Savarkar, in turn, saw Gandhi’s uncompromising nonviolence as naïve – a path that would leave India defenseless, and therefore dangerous for an independent nation.
Yet there was a rare moment of mutual respect on the issue of caste reform. Gandhi recognized the value of Savarkar’s temple entry campaign, while Savarkar appreciated Gandhi’s willingness to engage despite their differences.
This 1927 encounter has since been remembered as a symbolic clash of two Indias:
- Gandhi’s India – of ahimsa, spiritual politics, an idealistic view of interfaith relations, and skepticism toward rapid industrial and technical progress. His vision prioritized a village-based economy deeply embedded in traditional practices.
- Savarkar’s India – of Hindutva, advocating social reform within Hindu society, a strong emphasis on military preparedness, and a vision of nationhood rooted in science, knowledge, progress, and modernity. His outlook sought to build a robust national economy by balancing urban and rural development.
Their debate over the role of violence, religion, and national defense was prophetic. Independent India eventually aligned more closely with Savarkar’s vision of a strong army, though Gandhi’s legacy of nonviolence continues to inspire certain types of movements worldwide.
In sum, the Ratnagiri meeting of 1927 was not a search for compromise but a clear exposition of irreconcilable philosophies and political strategies.
💭 What do you think? Which path do you think was more realistic and promising to achieve freedom for India: Gandhi’s Ahimsa (nonviolence) or Savarkar’s call for military strength and armed preparedness? Do you see Gandhi’s vision of a village-based economy or Savarkar’s vision of a modern, science-driven nation as more relevant to India today? Was Gandhi’s uncompromising nonviolence “idealistic courage” or “naïve weakness”? What do you think? When it comes to interfaith relations, whose approach seems more practical to you—Gandhi’s spiritual universalism or Savarkar’s emphasis on Hindu consolidation? Do you think India’s post-independence path has leaned more towards Gandhi’s ideals or Savarkar’s vision? Why? If Gandhi and Savarkar were alive today, what issues do you think they would still disagree on most?
👉 Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Sources:
KEER, Dhananjay. 1988. Veer Savarkar. Third Edition. (Second Edition: 1966). Popular Prakashan: Bombay (Mumbai).
SAMPATH, Vikram. 2019. Savarkar (Part 1). Echoes from a forgotten past. 1883-1924.Penguin Random House India: Gurgaon.
SAVARKAR, Vinayak Damodar. 1945. Hindu Rashtravad. Being an Exposition of the Ideology & Immediate Programme of Hindu Rashtra as outlined by Swatantrayaveer V.D. Savarkar. Rohtas Printing Press: Rohtak. (Collected & Edited by Satya Parkash).
Wolf, Siegfried O. 2009. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar und sein Hindutva-Konzept. Die Konstruktion einer kollektiven Identität in Indien [“Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his concept of Hindutva: The construction of a collective identity in India.”]. Online Dissertation: Heidelberg University: Heidelberg.
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